A qualitative exploration of older drivers’ attitudes towards driving cessation: Application of the transactional model of stress and coping

• Driving cessation is a major lifestyle threat, causing distress among older adults. • Access to alternative transportation shapes older adults’ attitudes. • Older adults with prosocial attitudes are more open to driving cessation. • A holistic approach is key to supporting older adults facing driving cessation. • The TMSC shows how cognitive appraisals inform attitudes towards driving cessation. Driving cessation in older adulthood is a common yet complex phenomenon that can have profound implications for individuals’ wellbeing and quality of life. For many older adults, the prospect of driving cessation can lead to considerable distress. The Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (TMSC) provides a framework for understanding this distress, suggesting that negative attitudes toward licence loss, insufficient resources, and ineffective coping mechanisms contribute to adverse outcomes associated with driving cessation. Therefore, through the application of the TMSC, this qualitative study explored older adults’ attitudes toward driving cessation and collated recommendations for support mechanisms. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 34 older Queensland drivers aged 60 years and above. The qualitative data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, with findings interpreted through the lens of the TMSC. The data analysis resulted in four themes: (i) driving cessation would adversely affect older adults’ lifestyle and quality of life (ii) attitudes are influenced by the adequacy of alternative transportation options (iii) those with prosocial attitudes are more willing to cease driving, and (iv) a holistic approach is needed in supporting older adults who have lost their licence. These findings elucidate older drivers’ attitudes toward driving cessation and can inform targeted strategies to reduce distress during their transition.